Why are Wetlands
Wonderf ul?
a. Wetlands can be recharged by groundwater.
Wetland water supply can oftentimes decrease, but
certain wetlands are connected to groundwater and
this allows them to be recharged, or refilled with water.
b. Wetlands provide calm waters and food for many
baby animals, including fish, insects, mammals, birds,
amphibians and reptiles. Wetlands also provide plenty
of protective cover from predators.
c. Wetlands store extra water or run-off. When
heavy rains fall, the excess water is "soaked up" by
the spongy soils of wetlands.
d. Wetlands clean dirty water. When water runs off the
surface of the land, it often picks up pollution like car
oil, fertilizer and pesticides. The soils and plants in
wetlands help to filter out those toxic chemicals.
e. Wetlands are important for human and wildlife food
production. In Nebraska, wetlands produce a lot of
grasses that make for great food for animals like
cows, while migrating birds enjoy high energy snacks
on their journeys.
f. Wetlands provide numerous recreation opportunities
for humans. Bird watching, fishing, hiking and hunting
all take place in wetlands. Without wetlands, we would
be missing out on tons of fun!
g. Wetlands provide a home to many different species,
including several threatened and endangered species
such as the Salt Creek tiger beetle, whooping cranes
and western massasauga snakes.
W
etlands aren't just beautiful, but also beneficial!
That means they can be helpful in many ways.
Let's take a closer look at the benefits of wetlands below.
Draw a line to match the correct description with
the image that shows how a wetland functions!
Answers on page 2.
8 — WETLANDOLOGY: A Kid's Book About Wetlands
